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Maritime Accident Casualties Decrease by 16.5 % in 2025
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Date
2026.04.02.
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Maritime Accident Casualties Decrease by 16.5 % in 2025
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- Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries' announcement of 2025 maritime accident statistics... number of accidents increases by 7.9%
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The Korea Maritime Safety Tribunal (KMST; Commissioner Lee Si-won) under the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF) announced that it has published the 2025 Maritime Accident Statistics, which include the number of maritime accidents and details of damage that occurred over the past year.
A total of 3,513 maritime accidents were reported in 2025, which is an increase of 258 cases (7.9%) compared to the previous year (3,255 cases in 2024); the resulting human casualties (deaths and missing persons) stood at 137, a decrease of 27 cases (16.5%) compared to the previous year (164 cases in 2024).
An examination of trends by type of maritime accident over the past five years shows that the increase rates for steering gear damage (average annual increase of 12%) and for contact incidents and entanglement with floating objects (average annual increase of 10% each) are more than double the average annual increase rate for all maritime accidents over the same period (5%).
By vessel type, fishing vessels accounted for the largest number of accidents with 2,312 cases (65.8%). Among these, small fishing vessels under 10 tons constituted the highest proportion with 1,861 cases (53.0%). In addition, there were 603 accidents (17.2%) involving non-fishing vessels such as cargo ships, and 598 accidents (17.0%) involving water leisure equipment.
By type of accident, engine damage accounted for the largest number with 1,049 cases (29.9%), followed by entanglement with floating objects with 535 cases (15.2%) and flooding with 292 cases (8.3%).
Meanwhile, the total number of casualties or missing persons due to maritime accidents was found to be 137. By type of accident, human casualties resulting from safety accidents stood at 84 (61.3%), followed by capsizing with 25 (18.2%), fire and explosion with 10 (7.3%), collision and grounding with 8 each (5.8%), and sinking and other accidents with 1 each (0.7%).
“Although casualties in 2025 decreased slightly compared to the previous year, safety accidents such as falling into the sea while fishing still occur frequently, so wearing life jackets and adhering to basic safety rules must become part of daily life. I ask the relevant industries and workers to cooperate actively so that such safety culture can be established in the marine and fisheries sector,” Vice Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Sungbum urged.
Anyone can visit the Central Marine Safety Tribunal website (www.kmst.go.kr) or the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) to download the 2025 Maritime Accident Statistics for free.
By type of accident, engine damage accounted for the largest number with 1,049 cases (29.9%), followed by entanglement with floating objects with 535 cases (15.2%) and flooding with 292 cases (8.3%).
Meanwhile, the total number of casualties or missing persons due to maritime accidents was found to be 137. By type of accident, human casualties resulting from safety accidents stood at 84 (61.3%), followed by capsizing with 25 (18.2%), fire and explosion with 10 (7.3%), collision and grounding with 8 each (5.8%), and sinking and other accidents with 1 each (0.7%).
“Although casualties in 2025 decreased slightly compared to the previous year, safety accidents such as falling into the sea while fishing still occur frequently, so wearing life jackets and adhering to basic safety rules must become part of daily life. I ask the relevant industries and workers to cooperate actively so that such safety culture can be established in the marine and fisheries sector,” Vice Minister of the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries Kim Sungbum urged.
Anyone can visit the Central Marine Safety Tribunal website (www.kmst.go.kr) or the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) to download the 2025 Maritime Accident Statistics for free.
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